[Helenpays no attention. She gazes straight out into the future, head high, eyes clear and wide open.
[Helenpays no attention. She gazes straight out into the future, head high, eyes clear and wide open.
John
First of all, when the others come out, I'm going to ask them to look you in the face. Then you can make this statement to them, if you wish, and—look them in the face.
Helen
[with quiet scorn]
If I were being forced into such a marriage as poor little Jean's, I would kill myself. But in the eyes of God, who made love, no matter how I may appear in the eyes of man, who made marriage, I know that I am doing right.
[Lucycomes out, followed by theJudge.
John
[not seeing them. He is loud]
Say that to Uncle Everett and Cousin Theodore! Say that to my wife, stand up and say that to the world, if you dare.
Lucy
[toJudge]
She has told him!
John
[wheeling about]
What! did she tell you? Why didn't you come to me at once?
Lucy
[tremulous]
She said she wanted to tell you herself. I didn't think she'd dare!
[They all turn to look atHelen. Theodorecomes back from church alone.
Helen
It had to be announced, of course.
Theodore
[advancing, beaming]
Announced? What is announced?
[All turn to him in a panic.
Lucy
[hurriedly]
Their engagement, Theodore!
Judge
[overridingHelen]
Yes, John has given his consent at last—example to society.
[ProdsJohn.
John
[also overridesHelen]
Of course! One of the finest fellows in the world.
Theodore
[delighted]
And withal he has a deep religious nature. Congratulations. My dear, he'll make an ideal husband.
[Takes bothHelen'shands, about to kiss her.
Helen
[can't help smiling]
Thank you, cousin, but I don't want a husband.
[A sudden silence.
Theodore
[looks from one to the other]
A lover's quarrel?—already!
Judge
[enjoying it]
No, Theodore, these lovers are in perfect accord. They both have conscientious scruples against marriage.
John
Conscientious!
Judge
So they are simply going to set up housekeeping without the mere formality of a wedding ceremony.
[TheodoredropsHelen'shands.
Helen
[quietly]
We are going to do nothing of the sort.
Theodore
Uncle Everett!
[Takes her hands again.
Helen
We are not going to set up housekeeping at all. He will keep his present quarters and I mine.
John
But they are going to belong to each other.
Theodore
[dropsHelen'shands—aghast]
I don't believe it.
Judge
[apart toTheodore]
The strike against marriage. It was bound to come.
Theodore
[toJudge]
But Church and State—[indicates self andJudge] must break this strike.
Helen
John is a practical man. He will prove to you that such a home as we could afford would only be a stumbling-block to Ernest's usefulness, a hollow sphere for mine. You can't fill it with mere happiness, Lucy, not for long, not for long.
Judge
[restrainsTheodoreabout to reply]
Oh, let her get it all nicely talked out, then she'll take a nap and wake up feeling better. [Whispering.] We've driven her to this ourselves, but she really doesn't mean a word of it. Come, dear child, tell us all about this nightmare.
Helen
[smiles at theJudge]
Why, think what would happen to an eager intellect like Ernest Hamilton's if he had to come back to a narrow-minded apartment or a dreary suburb every evening and eat morbid meals opposite a housewife regaling him with the social ambitions of the other commuters. Ugh! It has ruined enough brilliant men already. [JudgerestrainsTheodoreand others who want to interrupt.] Now at the University Club he dines, at slight expense compared with keeping up a home, upon the best food in the city with some of the best scientists in the country.... Marriage would divorce him from all that, would transplant him from an atmosphere of ideas into an atmosphere of worries. We should be forced into the same deadly ruts as the rest of you, uncle. Do you want me to destroy a great career, Theodore?
Theodore
Do you want to be a blot upon that career?
Helen
[lightly]
I'd rather be a blot than a blight, and that's what I'd be if I became his bride. Ask John.
Lucy
Do you want to be disgraced, despised, ostracized!
Helen
[smiles atLucy]
A choice of evils, dear; of course, none of those costly well-kept wives on your visiting list will call upon me. But instead of one day at home, instead of making a tired husband work for me, I'll have all my days free to work with him, like the old-fashioned woman you admire! Instead of being an expense, I'll be a help to him; instead of being separated by marriage and divergent interests, we'll be united by love and common peril.... Isn't that the orthodox way to gain character, Theodore?
John
Oh, this is all damned nonsense! Look here, you've either got to marry this fellow now or else go away and never see him again; never, never!
Helen
Just what I thought, John. I intended never to see him again. That was why I let you send me abroad. But I'll never, never do it again.[Smiling like an engaged girl.] It was perfectly dreadful! Ernest couldn't get along without me at all, poor old thing. And I, why, I nearly died.
John
Then you'll have to be married, that's all.
The Others
Why, of course you'll have to, that's all.
Helen
[nodding]
Oh, I know just how you feel about it. I thought so, too, at first, but I can't marry Ernest Hamilton. I love him.
Theodore
But if you love him truly—marriage, my dear, brings together those who love each other truly.
Helen
But those who love each other truly don't need anything to bring them together. The difficulty is to keep apart.
[A reminiscent shudder.
John
That's all romantic rot! Every one feels that way at first.
Helen
At first! Then the practical object of marriage is not to bring together those who love each other, but to keep together those who do not? [ToLucy.] What a dreadful thing marriage must be!
[Judgechokes down a chuckle.
Judge
Ah, so you wish to be free to separate. Now we have it.
Helen
To separate? What an idea! On the contrary, we wish to be free to keep together! In the old days when they had interests in common marriage used to make man and woman one, but now it puts them apart. Can't you see it all about you? He goes down-town and works; she stays up-town and plays. He belongs to the laboring class; she belongs to the leisure class. At best, they seldom work at the same or similar trades. Legally it may be a union, but socially it's a mésalliance—in the eyes of God it's often worse.... No wonder that one ineleven ends in divorce. The only way to avoid spiritual separation is to shun legal union like a contagious disease. Modern marriageisdivorce. [She turns to go, defiantly.] I've found my work, I've found my mate, and so has he! What more can any human being ask?
[TheButlerappears.
Butler
[toJohn]
Doctor Hamilton is outside in a taxicab, sir.
John
Show him here at once!
Butler
He says he does not care to come in, sir, unless you are ready to talk to him now.
John
Well, of all the nerve! You bet I'm ready!
[Starts off.Helenstarts, too.
Judge
[intercepting them calmly]
Wait a minute—wait a minute. [ToServant.] Ask Doctor Hamilton kindly to wait inthe library. [TheButlergoes.] Now, we're all a bit overwrought. [SoothesHelen, pats her hand, puts arm about her, gradually leads her back.] I still believe in you, Helen, I still believe in him. [To all.] It's simply that he's so deeply absorbed in his great work for mankind that he doesn't realize what he is asking Helen to do.
Helen
[quietly]
So I told him ... when he asked me to marry him.
All
What! Heaskedyou tomarryhim?
Helen
Of course!Imploredme to marry him. [She adds, smiling.] So absorbed—not in mankind, but in me—that he "didn't realize what he was asking me to do."
Lucy
[utterly amazed]
And you refused him! The man who loves you honorably?
Helen
[demurely]
Of course! You don't suppose I'd take advantage of the poor fellow's weakness. Women often do, I admit—even when not in love, sometimes.... Not because they're depraved but dependent.
John
[to all]
And then he proposed this wicked substitute! Poisoned her innocent mind—the bounder!
Helen
But he did nothing of the sort.
John
Oh, your own idea, was it?
Helen
Of course!
John
[to all]
And he is willing to take advantage of the poor child's ignorance—the cad! [ToTheodore.] "Deep religious nature," eh?
Theodore
I can't believe it of him.
Helen
He knows nothing about it yet. I haven't even seen him since I made my decision.
[All exchange bewildered glances.
John
[apart toJudge]
We've got to get him off to Paris. It's our only hope.
Judge
[apart toJohn]
You can't stop her following. She's on the edge of the precipice—do you want to shove her over? You are dealing with big people here and a big passion.
[TheButlerreturns.
Butler
Doctor Hamilton asks to see Miss Helen while waiting.
Judge
[calmly toButler]
Tell Doctor Hamilton that Miss Helen will see him here.
[TheButlerleaves.
John
Are you crazy! We've got to keep 'em apart—our one chance to save her.
Judge
No, bring them together.Thatis our one chance. Come, we'll go down into the garden and they'll have a nice little talk. Nothing like talk, John, honest talk, to clear these marriage problems.
[Going.
John
And let them elope? In that taxicab?—not on your life!
[Runs to and fro.
Judge
Come, John, girls never notify the family in advance when they plan elopements. It's not done.
Theodore
[going]
Uncle Everett is right. Ernest will bring her to her senses. Hehasa deep religious nature.
[JudgeleadsJohnaway to the garden.
Lucy
[lingering—toHelen]
If you offer yourself on such terms to the man who loves you honorably, he'll never look at you again.
Theodore
[leadingLucyoff to garden]
Don't worry! She won't.
[Ernestrushes out toHelen.
Helen
Ernest!
Ernest
At last! [He takes her in his arms; she clings to him and gazes into his eyes; a long embrace.] Tell me that you're all right again.
Helen
[smiling with love and trust]
Except that you deserted me, dear, just when I needed you most. Ernest, Ernest! never leave me again.
Ernest
Deserted you? Why, your brother said you were ill.
Helen
Ah, I see ... he was mistaken.
Ernest
[jubilant and boyish]
But never mind now, I've got you at last, and I'll never, never let you go. You've got to sail with me to-morrow. Together! Oh, think! Together.
[Another embrace.
Helen
Are yousureyou love me?
Ernest
[laughs from sheer joy of her nearness]
Am I sure? Ten million times more to-day than yesterday.
Helen
Even so ... it is not, and can never be, as I love you.
Ernest
[with her hands in his, gayly]
Then you can apologize.
Helen
Apologize?
Ernest
For saying, years and years ago—in other words, last night—that you didn't think you'd marry me after all. [She starts.] Why, what's the matter? You're trembling like a leaf. Youareill!
Helen
No; oh, no.
Ernest
[tenderly]
Still a few lingering doubts? I had hoped a good night's rest would put those little prejudices to sleep forever.
Helen
Sleep?
[She shakes her head, gazing at him soberly.
Ernest
So you could not sleep? Neither could I; I was too happy to sleep. I was afraid I'd miss some wondrous throbbing thought of your loveliness. [Takes her passive hand, puts a kiss in it, and closes it reverently while she looks into his eyes without moving.] Do you know, I'm disappointed in love. I always thought it meant soft sighs and pretty speeches. It means an agony of longing, delicious agony, but, oh, terrific. [She says nothing.] Dear, dear girl, it may be easy for you, but I can't stand much more of this.
Helen
Nor I.
Ernest
You must come to Paris with me or I'll stay home. All through the night I had waking visions of our being parted. Just when we had found each other at last. Some terrible impersonal monster stepped in between us and said: "No. Now that you have had your glimpse of heaven—away! Ye twain shall not enter here...." Silly, wasn't it? But I couldn't get the horror of it out of my head.
Helen
[nodding]
Do you know why, Ernest? Because it was in mine. It came from my thought to yours. You and I are attuned like wireless instruments. Even in the old blind days, there in the laboratory I used to read your mind. Shall I tell youthe name of the monster that would put us asunder?... Its name is Marriage.
Ernest
But I need you. You know that. And you need me. It's too late. We are helpless now—in the clutch of forces more potent than our little selves—forces that brought us into the world—forces that have made the world. Whether you will or no, this beautiful binding power is sweeping you and me together. And you must yield.
Helen
[reaching for his hand]
Ah, my dear, could anything make it more beautiful, more binding than it is now?
Ernest
It is perfect. The one divine thing we share with God. The Church is right in that respect. I used to look upon marriage as a mere contract. It's a religious sacrament.
Helen
Does the wedding ceremony make it sacred?
Ernest
That mediæval incantation! No, love, which is given by God, not the artificial form made by man.
Helen
I knew it! I knew you'd see it—the mistake of all the ages. They've tried to make love fit marriage. It can't be done. Marriage must be changed to fit love. [Impulsively.] Yes, I'll go to Paris with you.
Ernest
[about to take her in his arms]
You darling!
Helen
[steps back]
But not as your wife.
Ernest
[stops—perplexed]
You mean ... without marriage?
Helen
I mean without marriage.
[They look into each other's eyes.
Ernest
A moment ago I thought I loved you as much as man could love woman. I was mistaken in you—I was mistaken in myself. For now I love you as man never loved before. You superb, you wonderful woman!
Helen
[holds out her hand to be shaken, not caressed]
Then you agree?
Ernest
[kneels, kisses her hand, and arises]
Of course not! You blessed girl, don't you suppose I understand? It's all for my sake. Therefore for your sake—no.
Helen
Then for my sake—for the sake of everything our love stands for!
Ernest
[laughing fondly]
Do you think I'd let you do anything for anybody's sake you're sure, later, to regret?
Helen
Then don't ask me to marry you, Ernest. We'd both regret that later. It would destroy the two things that have brought us together, love and work.
Ernest
Nonsense. Nothing could do that.... And besides, think of our poor horrified families! Think of the world's view!
Helen
Aren't we sacrificing enough for the world—money, comforts, even children? Must we also sacrifice each other to the world? Must we be hypocrites because others are? Must we, too, be cowards and take on the protective coloring of our species?
Ernest
Our ideas may be higher than society's, but society rewards and punishes its members according to its own ideas, not ours.
Helen
Do you want society's rewards? Do you fear society's punishment?
Ernest
[jubilantly enfolding her]
With you in my arms, I want nothing from heaven, I fear nothing from hell; but, my dear [shrugs and comes down to earth with a smile and releases her], consider the price, consider the price.
Helen
Aren't you willing to pay the price?
Ernest
I? Yes! But it's the woman, always the woman, who pays.
Helen
I am willing to pay.
Ernest
I am not willing to let you.
Helen
You'll have to be, dear. I shall go with you on my terms or not at all.
Ernest
[with decision]
You will come with me as my wife or stay at home.
Helen
[gasping]
Now? After all I've said, all I've done? Ernest: I've told the family! I relied upon you. I took for granted—Ernest, you wouldn't—you couldn't leave me behind now.
Ernest
Thanks to you and what you've made of me, I must and will.
Helen
Ernest!
[Opens her arms to him to take her.
Ernest
[about to enfold her—resists]
No! If you love me enough for that [points to her pleading hands]—I love you enough for this. [He turns to go.] Come when you're ready to marry me.
Helen
[shrill, excited, angered]
Do you think this has been easy for me? Do you think I'll offer myself again on any terms? Never!
Ernest
You must marry me—and you will.
Helen
You don't know me. Good-by!
Ernest
Very well!
[Ernest, afraid to stay, goes at once. She waits motionless until she hears the automobile carrying him away. She immediately turns from stone to tears, with a low wail. In utter despair, hands outstretched she sinks down upon a bench and buries her face in her hands.
[Ernest, afraid to stay, goes at once. She waits motionless until she hears the automobile carrying him away. She immediately turns from stone to tears, with a low wail. In utter despair, hands outstretched she sinks down upon a bench and buries her face in her hands.
Helen
Oh, Ernest!... How could you?
[Lucy,Theodore,JudgeandJohnall hurry back, all excited.
Theodore
Did you see his horrified look?
Lucy
Fairly running away—revolted. Ah!
[Points atHelen. Helenarises, defiant, confident, calm.
John
[toHelen]
What did I tell you!
Lucy
You have thrown away the love of an honorable man.
Theodore
Trampled upon the finest feelings of a deep nature.
John
Let this be a lesson to you. You've lost your chance to marry, your chance to work, and now, by heavens! you will cut out "independence" and stay at home,where women belong, and live down this disgrace ... if you can.
Lucy
With one excuse or another—he'll stay away. He'll never come back.
Helen
[clear and confident as if clairvoyant]
He will! He is coming now.... He iscrossing the hall.... He is passing through the library.... He's here!
[But she doesn't turn.Ernestreappears at the door and takes in the situation at a glance.
[But she doesn't turn.Ernestreappears at the door and takes in the situation at a glance.
John
[still turned towardHelen]
He'll never look at you again, and I don't blame him! I'm a man; I know. We don't respect women who sell out so cheap.
Ernest
You lie! [All turn, astounded.Helenruns towardErnestwith a cry of joy.Johnstarts to block her. ToJohn.] Stop! You're not fit to touch her. No man is.
John
[with a sarcastic laugh]
Humph! I suppose that's why you ran away.
Ernest
Yes. To protect her from myself.
John
Then why come back?
Ernest
To protect her from you! You cowards, you hypocrites! [He rushes down toHelen, puts his strong arm about shoulder and whispers rapidly.] Just as I started, something stopped me. In a flash I saw ... all this.
Helen
[clasping his arm with both hands]
I made you come! I made you see!
John
[advances menacingly]
By what right are you here in my home? By what right do you take my sister in your arms?
Ernest
By a right more ancient than man-made law! I have come to the cry of my mate. I'm here to fight for the woman I love! [Arm aboutHelen, defies the world. To all.] My trip to Paris is postponed. One week from to-day gather all your family here, and in your home we'll make our declaration to the world.
John
In my home! Ha! Not if I know it.
Judge
[restrainingJohn]
Play for time, John—he'll bring her around.
John
[toErnest]
Do you mean to marry her or not? Speak my language!
[ErnestreleasesHelenand steps across toJohn.
Ernest
Shedecides that—not you.
[All turn toHelen.
Helen
Never!
John
[shaking offJudge. ToHelen.]
You'll go with this damned fanatic only over my dead body.
Helen
[high]
And that will only cry aloud the thing you wish to hide from the world you fear.
[Just nowJeanis seen slowly returning from the garden withoutRex. Her prettyhead is bent and, busy with her own sad thoughts, she is startled by the following:
[Just nowJeanis seen slowly returning from the garden withoutRex. Her prettyhead is bent and, busy with her own sad thoughts, she is startled by the following:
Ernest
There are laws to prevent marriage in some cases but none to enforce marriage on women—unless they will it.
John
[beside himself with rage]
Enforce! Do you think I'll everallowa sister of mine to marry a libertine?
Jean
[thinks they are discussing her, and is outraged]
But I'm not going to marry him! My engagement is broken.
[General consternation. Sobbing,Jeanruns into house.
John
My God, what next? Lucy, don't let Rex get away! You know what he'll do—and when he sobers up, it may be too late. [ToErnest.] As for you, you snake, you get right out of here.
Judge
[in the sudden silence]
Now you've done it, John.
Ernest
Oh, very well, this is your property.
Helen
ButIam not! I go, too!
[She runs toErnest.
Theodore
Don't commit this sin!
John
Let her go! She's no sister of mine.
Judge
[the only calm one]
If she leaves this house now, it's all up.
John
A woman who will give herself to a man without marriage is no sister of mine.
Helen
[about to go, turns, leaning onErnest. To all]
Give!... But if Isoldmyself, as you are forcing poor little Jean to do, to a libertine she does not love, who does not love her—that is not sin! That is respectability! To urge and aid her to entrap a man into marriage by playing the shameless tricks of the only trade men want women to learn—that is holy matrimony. But to give yourself of your own free will to the man you love and trust and can help, the man who loves and needs and has won the right to have you—oh, if this is sin, then let me live and die a sinner!